ESPN reporter Erin Andrews interviews Oregon Ducks linebacker Casey Matthews during a media day event prior to 2011 BCS National Championship game against the Auburn Tigers to be played on January 10, 2011. Mandatory Credit: Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

GQ Magazine caught up with ESPN’s arguably most popular sideline personality Erin Andrews for a Q&A to preview the BCS National Championship game between Auburn and Oregon.

Erin Andrews, a graduate of the University of Florida, chopped it up with the magazine on a variety of topics but, of course, addressed the internet pictures that haunted her life. That’s when Erin “PageViews” Andrews showed a side I hadn’t seen out of her yet and name checked USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan.

From the article:

GQ: The Internet has had an unquestionable impact on your career, both positively and invasively. Do you think the pros have outweighed the cons, because it certainly seems like it has been both friend and foe to you?

EA: If you want to be very honest, the Internet is what really hurt me mentally. A man putting my body all over the Internet, and people accessing it? It really has caused me great grief and embarrassment and it’s something I’m going to have to deal with for the rest of my life. At the same time, you are right. Everything blew up like four, five years ago. They nicknamed me Erin Pageviews. It took me to a level I never anticipated.

GQ: What are your thoughts on the ongoing Favre saga? On one hand, it’s the same kind of salacious story that has dogged your career, and yet on the other hand, it’s dealing with a serious issue of sexual harassment.

EA: I look back at what people thought about me when this all came out [my hotel-room incident], and they thought I did it for publicity—that I did it to myself. People like Christine Brennan said that I deserved it. So I would like to reserve judgment.

I have the utmost respect for Christine Brennan, who is a trailblazer for women in sports print journalism. But have no problems with Erin Andrews sticking up for herself here.

Andrews was a victim of stalking when nude photos were taken of her while she was in a hotel room a few years ago. Christin Brennan caught heat for a few tweets she sent on the subject matter; “Women sports journalists need to be smart and not play to the frat house. There are tons of nuts out there. Erin Andrews incident is bad, but to add perspective: there are 100s of women sports journalists who have never had this happen to them.

In fairness, there are women in the sports journalism industry who have used their sexuality over talent to get ahead thus staining the image for everyone. However, Erin Andrews never struck me as someone who belonged in that category.

Sure, Erin Andrews is considered attractive and I can’t imagine that hurts her being that she works in an image industry like television. But she’s not walking around baring a midriff and flaunting cleavage in locker rooms and sidelines. And, correct me if I’m wrong, but she isn’t doing nude spreads for Playboy either.

In no way, shape or form, did Erin Andrews deserve what happened to her. I’m glad to see her bounce back on her feet and do well.